Jake Bugg (CD)

Jake Bugg

Amoeba Review

04/08/2013

Young British Jake Bugg appears to fill the void of “young Dylans” the press collectively fawns over every so often. Thankfully, Bugg’s got more than just good looks, a nasally voice and an acoustic guitar — he has all of those things, to be sure, but his tunes, like the immediately memorable “Lightning Bolt,” also have legs to carry the hype with an appealing country swagger. “Two Fingers” matches a soaring chorus to its thumping beat, “Simple as This” nicely incorporates some Simon & Garfunkel harmonies, and “Country Song” is really more Marc Bolan than country, featuring some of Bugg’s most delightfully keening vocals. You don’t really objectively believe the young Bugg when he sings “I swear I’ve seen it all” on “Seen It All,” but his conviction and energy makes you a believer in Bugg as a performer nonetheless.